The Municipal Cannabis Regulators Network Michigan Chapter is a professional network of local government cannabis administrators who oversee medical and/or recreational marijuana regulations. The Michigan Chapter is working to build a positive and supportive community among local government marijuana administrators in our state.
The Michigan Chapter was launched after one of the key findings of the 2022 Michigan Local Government Marijuana Review Process Survey (MRPS) revealed that local government cannabis regulations officials expressed more training and professional development opportunities need to be made available to municipal cannabis regulators.
After forming an advisory board to provide guidance on network programs and membership services, we opened our membership in January 2023 to the primary official/employee who is responsible for overseeing medical and/or recreational marijuana regulations for the municipality. Within the first six months of launching, we have grown our membership to 38 regulators representing all regions of our state: Northern, Mid-Michigan, Western, Southeastern and the "Thumb". Michigan Chapter regulators are from the cities of Battle Creek, Bay City, Big Rapids, Center Line, Clare, Coldwater, Coleman, Crystal Falls, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Hazel Park, Highland Park, Madison Heights, Manistee, Marshall, Mount Clemens, Mount Pleasant, Niles, Pontiac, Reading, Roseville, Sturgis, Swartz Creek, Warren & White Cloud. The townships of Arlington, Buena Vista, Emmett, Lawrence, Vassar and Windsor. The villages of Barryton, Constantine, Leonard and Quincy.
Garland Doyle, M.P.A., CNP serves as the City Clerk for the City of Pontiac, Michigan. He is the architect of the medical marijuana application process. Doyle designed a process that carried out the will of the voters. He required applicants to work with local nonprofits, neighborhood and faith based organizations in developing their community benefits plans. Applicant plans were evaluated and scored based on the quality, duration and demonstrated community support of their pledged community benefits.
Doyle, a native Detroiter, got his start in government with the City of Detroit. Doyle previously served as the Deputy Director for the Department of Human Services. He holds a master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management from Eastern Michigan University. His Bachelor of Arts degree is from Wayne State University. He is a certified nonprofit professional (CNP).
Since serving as Pontiac's Chief Cannabis Regulator, Doyle has been concerned about the lack of resources availaibe to local government regulators. In 2022, he developed the Michigan Local Government Marijuana Review Process Survey to gain a better understanding of local government cannabis regulations and administration throughout the state.
Dennis E. Champine has worked as the City Manager/City Clerk/DD Director and HR Director for the City of Center Line, Michigan since 2015. His responsibilities include management of personnel, operations, finance, enforcement of ordinances, policies and procedures. Champine is the primary administrator overseeing the establishment of cannabis ordinance development and administrative policies and procedures, which has resulted in more than fifty-eight cannabis permits being issued in the Center Line community.
Champine previously served as a Property Manager for Kramer Homes Co-operative, Inc.; a Facilities Manager for GCA Service Group, Inc.; a Regional Manager for 9Toes, Inc.; and the Community Relations Manager Director for the City of Warren, Michigan. Champine also served six years in the United States Marine Corps.
Champine is a graduate of Davenport University earning an Associates Degree in Business Administration; and a graduate of Central Michigan University earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration - Community Development and a Master of Science in Administration - General Administration.
Champine is currently a member of the Center Line Lions Club, the Center Line Festival Foundation, Michigan Municipal Executives, SEMCOG Bicycle Advisory Committee, Center Line High School Advisory Committee, Michigan Municipal League and the International City/County Management Association.
Kim James is the Director of Marijuana Ventures for the City of Detroit. She has been a licensed attorney for 25 years, focusing on real property law and specializing in regulatory areas such as zoning and land use, code enforcement, licensing, and marijuana. She has been involved in drafting and implementing all the medical and adult-use regulations enacted by, and imposed upon, the City of Detroit since 2015.
James currently oversees Detroit’s Homegrown Program, which makes recommendations on marijuana license applications, manages the licensing process, and provides technical assistance programming for social equity entrepreneurs. In December 2022, Detroit awarded its first 33 adult use retail licenses, 20 of which are owned by social equity operators.
Amanda Mason is the City Attorney and the Municipal Cannabis coordinator for the City of Hazel Park. She practices primarily in the areas of municipal law, cannabis law, juvenile law, criminal law, and probate. She is the owner of her law firm, the Law Office of Amanda Mason. Ms. Mason served as an Oakland County assistant prosecutor from 2006 to 2017 and as an Isabella County assistant prosecutor from 2004 to 2006. Ms. Mason also regularly represents the Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Mason has been a recurring published ICLE contributor since 201 and previously taught at the Oakland Community College Police Academy and the Department of Health and Human Services, developing a training program for Oakland County.
Ms. Mason holds her juris doctorate from Wayne State University Law School and a graduate certificate in public management from Saginaw Valley State University. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Federal Bar Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys.
Georgette Peterson serves as the Township Clerk for Arlington Township.
Al Romero-Gibu is the Cannabis Manager for the City of Grand Rapids. He is responsible for coordinating all local processes related to the cannabis industry, including zoning, licensing, policy, and social equity and neighborhood impact. He is a graduate of Aquinas College and started working for the City of Grand Rapids in 2019.
Council on Municipal Cannabis
Policy, Leadership and Partnerships
2211 S Telegraph Rd. #7914 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302